On our way to Glasgow we stopped off at Alloway to visit the birthplace of Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet. There is a museum dedicated to him as well as the cottage he was born and grew up in, plus the old kirk (church) which housed the grave and tombstone of his father, as well as featuring in his famous poem, "Tam o Shanter".
Robbie Burn's birthplace
Where young Robbie was tutored - ie the kitchen
His father's gravestone in the old kirk
Inscription on the rear of the gravestone by Robert Burns of course
From there we headed for Culzean Castle (pronounced Cul-ain I think). The castle is now owned and run by the National Trust and was originally built in the late 16th century but major modifications were undertaken in the 1770 - 1790's becoming architect Robert Adams most famous creation.
It is the most visited site on the Scottish National Trust and has an interesting history - at one stage General (and later President) Eisenhower had exclusive use of an apartment in the castle as recognition of his efforts during WWII.
Visitors can meander through many of the rooms and imagine life as it was for the rich in those times (ie 1800 - 1930's). The more intrepid can hike though the 600 acres of park and woodlands - unfortunately most of the wildlife that wasn't hunted and shot by the earlier inhabitants seem to have wisely fled.
The dining room - the table can be extended to fit 30+
The "other side" of the dining experience - the kitchen
Glasgow is pretty easy to get around. We managed to walk to some places, ride a bus to another and catch the subway to even more. We even managed to stumble across a jazz band knocking out a good sound in a pub near our accommodation late in the afternoon, necessitating a stop, a drink and a listen for a while.
Not many decades ago Glasgow was run down and quite decrepit - now its a bustling thriving town focusing on cultural and sporting events
The irreverent Glaswegians started adding a traffic cone hat to this statue of the Duke of Wellington way back in the early 1980's. The City council finally gave up its efforts of removing the cones in 2013 partially due to the cost and obvious danger to people putting the hats on.
We managed to have a quick look through Glasgow Cathedral before walking up to the Necropolis, the old cemetery looking over the city and full of magnificent tombstones of past merchants and gentry of Glasgow.
Glasgow Cathedral
Just a very few of the tombstones in the Necropolis
It is the most visited site on the Scottish National Trust and has an interesting history - at one stage General (and later President) Eisenhower had exclusive use of an apartment in the castle as recognition of his efforts during WWII.
Visitors can meander through many of the rooms and imagine life as it was for the rich in those times (ie 1800 - 1930's). The more intrepid can hike though the 600 acres of park and woodlands - unfortunately most of the wildlife that wasn't hunted and shot by the earlier inhabitants seem to have wisely fled.